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Elena Rybakina feels at home as she storms into Dubai last 16
The Russia-born Kazakh star, who now resides in Dubai, felt at home on the Centre Court, producing superb tennis to beat Kimberly Birrell of Australia 6-1, 6-2
- PUBLISHED: Tue 17 Feb 2026, 9:01 PM
Even as some more players withdrew from the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Tuesday, due to injuries, Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina had no such concerns.
The Russia-born Kazakh star, who now resides in Dubai, felt at home on the Centre Court, producing superb tennis to beat Kimberly Birrell of Australia 6-1, 6-2 to move into the round of 16.
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“I spend so much time in Dubai that it feels like home,” the world number three said.
“A lot of people who work here (in this tournament) always say, ‘welcome back, welcome home.’
"So it always feels nice. It’s a really nice atmosphere in the court, and I always get a lot of support. So it’s always great to play here.”
Rybakina’s next opponent will be Austrian qualifier Antonia Ružić, who has won three back-to-back three-set battles, the second of which was against 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu, to reach the last 16.
“I have to recover well now for the next match, I don’t know the opponent, I have never played against her,” Rybakina said.
Meanwhile, Coco Gauff dismantled Anna Kalinskaya 6-4, 6-4 without ever coming close to hitting top form.
The American star, a two-time Grand Slam winner, did struggle in the windy conditions. But she did enough to move into the next round with a straight-set victory over a Russian opponent who had made a dream run to the Dubai final as a qualifier in 2024.
Among Kalinskaya’s victims enroute to that Dubai final was Gauff.
But Gauff played percentage tennis on the Centre Court to ensure there was no repeat of the 2024 setback.
“It wasn’t the prettiest win, but it was enough for today,” the world number four said.
“It was pretty windy; it felt very open on the (Royal Box) side, so I was trying to adjust a lot and was struggling with consistency. Every time I’ve been here, it’s not been windy so today was different.”
The 21-year-old arrived in Dubai following a quarterfinal exit at the Australian Open and a defeat in the round of 32 in Qatar last week.
Now Elise Mertens waits for her in the next round after the Belgian put on a solid performance to knock out Emma Navarro, Gauff’s compatriot 6-2, 6-2.
Gauff, who won the French Open last year, seemed relaxed when asked about her next game on Wednesday against a player she has never lost to in four previous encounters.
“I feel fine, it wasn’t that long of a match (against Kalinskaya). My focus will be more on trying to work on things I need for tomorrow’s match,” she said.
Meanwhile, world number five Jessica Pegula of the US was in complete command in her 6-4, 6-0 win over French qualifier Varvara Gracheva.
The 2024 US Open finalist, the daughter of American billionaire Terry Pegula, will face Iva Jovic for a place in the quarterfinals.
The 18-year-old Jovic, a rising star of American tennis who has already broken into the top 20 women’s world rankings, has arrived in Dubai on the back of an impressive run to the quarterfinals at the Australian Open, her breakthrough performance at a Grand Slam event.
On Tuesday, Jovic displayed the full range of her talent and fighting spirit in a dramatic 6-4, 1-6, 6-0 win over Diana Shnaider of Russia.
Denmark’s Carla Tauson, who reached the Dubai final last year, came up with a superb display to beat Peyton Stearns of the US 6-2, 6-4.
Tauson will take on Magda Linette of Poland, who knocked out world No12 Ekaterina Alexandrova with a thrilling three-set (6-2, 4-6, 6-1) victory.
Rituraj Borkakoty is Sports Editor and has spent more than two decades writing on his sporting heroes. He also loves an underdog story, so if you have one, share it with him. He would love to bring it to life.
